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“Ten states in the US now ban some of the most inhumane forms of animal confinement, several including rules on the treatment of egg-laying hens,” writes Humane Society Vice-President Paul Shapiro in Quartz. “The more Americans learned about how eggs are produced, the greater their concerns over animal cruelty became. The changing tides pushed both lawmakers and corporations to act.”
No decent person should rejoice over cruelty to any animal. But how about unborn children?
On Monday of this week, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a measure “requiring doctors to administer anesthesia to women receiving an abortion at the 20th week of gestation … The bill, the first of its kind in the nation according to the Salt Lake Tribune, states that an anesthetic or analgesic will ‘eliminate or alleviate organic pain to the unborn child’.”
“A growing body of science reveals (that) unborn babies can feel pain by 20 weeks post-fertilization,” writes the Director of FRC’s Center for Human Dignity, Arina Grossu, in her study of fetal pain. Yet for taking this thoughtful, commonsense, and simply humane step, Gov. Herbert has been castigated by abortion advocates and their allies in the media.
“The legislation is based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that point,” writes the New York Times. The online magazine Slate accuses the governor of “defying medical ethics.” And the Leftist Think Progress site shouts that the Utah bill “Could Literally Kill Women.”
Why are these proponents of abortion-on-demand so upset? Because the Utah bill operates from the premise that the unborn child should not be dismembered without at least some numbing of its excruciating pain, which itself implies that the unborn child must have some value.
This they cannot admit: If the unborn child has any value independent of her mother, she must be – what, a person? And that would mean that maybe we should revisit the whole elective-abortion-at-any-time regime imposed by Roe v. Wade, the sacred text of radical sexual autonomy and a culture that dehumanizes life within the womb.
Yes, let's treat chickens with consideration. But those who see legalized and unrestricted access to abortion as among the highest priorities in our national life should consider the words of Jesus to His disciples: "You" -- people made in the image and likeness of God, from fertilization onward (Psalm 139:13-16) -- "are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). And many chickens, too.
Sincerely,
Robert F. Schwarzwalder, Jr.
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. At noon on April 6, be sure to watch FRC's panel discussion, "Religious Liberty Around the World: Where We Stand as of Spring 2016," hosted by the Director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty, international human rights attorney Travis Weber, and featuring national leaders in the effort to protect the persecuted in all countries.
Religious Liberty
“Free to Believe” –
- Idaho Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Bible in Public Schools – Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines
- George Orwell Call Your Office: Marquette Demands Ritual Apology From Embattled Professor – David French, National Review
International Religious freedom-
- Christians Targeted on Easter in Terrorist Attack in Pakistan – Joe Carter, The Gospel Coalition
- State Department calls killing of Christians in Iraq genocide – Melinda Skea, The Becket Fund
- Iraqi Christians fear extinction, see no relief from Islamic State – Stephen Kalin, Reuters
- If Presidential Candidates Don’t Advocate for the Importance of Religious Liberty, America is Doomed – Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University
Military Religious Freedom
- Military Religious Freedom at Stake as Sterling Arguments Approach –First Liberty Institute
- Veterans' memorial moved from Missouri courthouse grounds due to Christian symbol – Jodie Jackson, Jr., Columbia (Missouri) Tribune
Religious Liberty in the public square
- Kansas College Groups Can Limit Members to Those Who Share Beliefs – Associated Press (in U.S. News and World Report)
- William B. Allen On The Centrality of Freedom Of Conscience – Acton Institute
- The Good of Religious Pluralism – Peter Berger, First Things
- Morning News Shows Censor Little Sisters SCOTUS Case – Katie Yoder, Media Research Center
- Americans Say Christians Face Intolerance, but Complain Too Much – Bob Smietana, Lifeway Research
Obamacare
- Supreme Court Request Gives Little Sisters Cause for Hope – Elizabeth Slattery, Daily Signal
- Supreme Court hears Little Sisters of the Poor case – Becket Fund
- Clinton Campaign Owns Up To the ‘Crushing’ Costs of Real-Life Obamacare - Betsy McCaughey, New York Sun
Life
Abortion
- Pence signs new abortion restrictions into law with a prayer - Chelsea Schneider and Tony Cook, Indianapolis Star
- Florida governor signs bill that terminates most funding for Planned Parenthood – Alliance Defending Freedom
- No, Defunding Planned Parenthood Is Not ‘Sure to Increase the Number of Abortions’ – Michael J. New, National Review
- The FDA Just Made Abortions Easier – Conservative Review
- Study: Networks Don’t Report Dangers of Abortion to Women – Katie Yoder, Media Research Center
- Pro-abortion researcher ignores preborn children to argue against 20-week ban – Susan Michelle, LiveAction
- Eugenic Selective Abortion -- An Affront to Humanity – Olivia Summers, American Center for Law and Justice
- Abortion is Never the Answer for Pregnant Women with Zika – Jonathan Abbamonte and Steven W. Mosher, NationalRighttoLifeNews.org
Abstinence Education
- Pro-Family Groups Push for Abstinence Funding – CitizenLink
- Personal Love and the Call to Chastity - Samantha Schroeder, The Public Discourse
Adoption
- Not Just Lexi: ICWA Hurting Untold Children Across U.S. - Elizabeth Morris, Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare
- Preserving the Adoption Option – Matt Kaufman, Citizen Magazine
Fetal Pain
- Utah governor signs anesthesia requirement for some abortions - Reuters
- Abortion clinic uses fear of fetal pain to sell costly general anesthesia – Sarah Terzo, LiveAction
Healthcare conscience
- Georgia's Republican Governor Rejects a Religious-Freedom Bill – Russell Berman, The Atlantic
- Religious freedom deserves deference: Our view- Editorial Board, USA Today
Family
Family Economics
- How Women Should Rethink The American Dream - Luma Simms, The Federalist
- For the middle-aged married, poverty is rare – W. Bradford Wilcox, American Enterprise Institute
- American Girls and Their Social Media Lives – Jaquelle Crowe, Gospel Coalition
Marriage
- Christian Marriage Business Can Sue City – Philip A. Janquart, Courthouse News Service
- Will polygamy become the next same-sex marriage? – Richard Ostling, Get Religion
- Compromise reached on single marriage license for all Ky. Couples – Jack Brammer, Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader
Human Sexuality (Homosexual/ gender issues)
- The Sexual Revolution Proves Itself to be a Totalitarian Movement – Jennifer Roback Morse, The Blaze
- Does Generation Z Really Defy Gender Norms? - Georgi Boorman, The Federalist
- Is your church a safe place for those who experience same-sex attraction? – Brad Hambrick, ERLC
- Six Truths About Transgender 'Bathroom Bills' – Frank Turek, Christian Post
Human Trafficking
- Sexploitation-Free Coffee Shops to Check Out – National Center on Sexual Exploitation
- ‘Every Parent’s Nightmare’- Nicholas Kristof, New York Times
- In the Philippines, sex trafficking of young girls moves online- PBS Newshour
Pornography
- Pornography addiction & steps to freedom – Joe Carter, Baptist Press
- The Porn Phenomenon – Citizen Magazine
- Seven Things to Do After You Look at Pornography – Paul Maxwell, Desiring God
- Teens & Young Adults Use Porn More Than Anyone Else – Barna Research
Welfare Reform
- The Next Welfare Reform: Food Stamps – Jason Riley, Wall Street Journal
- The Power of Work: How Kansas’ Welfare Reform Is Lifting Americans Out of Poverty - Jonathan Ingram and Nic Horton, Foundation for Government Accountability
